Mammals · Carnivora · Canidae

African Jackals

Lupulella mesomelas

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is a very ancient canid, little changed since the Pleistocene, and forms stable monogamous pairs in which both parents take an active part in raising the pups.

Weight

6 kg – 12 kg

Size

45 cm – 95 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaDesertOmnivore Nocturnal In pairs Savanna Desert Mammal

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Fun facts

It lives in two populations some 900 km apart, in eastern and southern Africa.
It feeds on small mammals, birds, insects, fruit and carrion.
Commonly only 1 to 3 of the pups born in a litter survive.
comportamientoIt is monogamous, and both parents — helped by young from earlier litters — share the rearing and the defence of the family territory.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Savanna, scrub and semi-desert country of eastern and southern Africa, in two populations some 900 km apart
Birth weight: Born blind and helpless in an underground den
Size at birth: Born blind and helpless
Sexual maturity: 11 months
Gestation / incubation: ~60 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 6 pups per litter (4 on average, though commonly only 1-3 survive)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 14 years

Sources consulted: Wikidata; Wikipedia (Black-backed jackal); Animal Diversity Web; Animalia.bio; Britannica; The Animal Files; PMC (rabies vaccine study); PMC (Babesia rossi natural hosts study)